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23/11/2011
REVIEW by MURRAY HUBBARD
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Land Rover Discovery 4 is a large spacious vehicle and with interstate visitors for the week in which we road tested the Disco, big was good as we played tour guide in the Gold Coast Hinterland. The current square shape has been around since 2009 – facelifted from Disco 3 – and is pigeon-holed in the love-it-or-hate-it category.
Land Rover Discovery 4 reeks of creature comforts. The command driving position is superb, giving the driver excellent vision and a feeling of superiority that’s not always appreciated by other road users.
Our review variant was the 3.0-litre, twin-turbo diesel HSE. The entry-level Discovery 4 is powered by a 2.7-litre TDV6 that struggles with the weight, while the top-of-the-tree 5.0-litre V8 Discovery lacks nothing in power, but loses out to economy compared to the 3.0-litre turbo diesel. Expect to use more than 14.0 litres/100 km in the V8, while consumption dropped to just 10 litres per 100 km in the 3.0-litre oil burner.
Chances are if you own a Land Rover Discovery fuel costs are not an issue, but it would be nice if you had a social conscience about the amount of CO2 your vehicle created.
The Disco 4 is a heavy vehicle tipping the scales at more than 2.5 tonnes. The 3.0-litre diesel is a great engine and suffers little under the load of 2.5 tonnes plus four adult passengers pushing the weight towards 3.0 tonnes. It is to be hoped when Discovery 5 appears it will have been to the fat farm and will tip the scales around the 2.0-tonne mark. This will improve not only economy and performance but also handling.
All up our test Discovery 4 tipped the price scales at $107,735, before on-roads, and including four option packs that accounted for $12,635. While the Discovery 4 is an undoubted 4x4 performer off-road, what we do doubt is that many of them actually see too much dirt. Perhaps the parking lot at the polo field.
The 2012 Land Rover Discovery has just gone on sale in Australia with upgrades and new option packs to keep the vehicle fresh – a never-ending quest these days with the rapid deployment of new communication technologies.
The basics have not changed with the vehicle still coming with a choice of three engines: a 2.7-litre TDV 6, the 180 kW version of the TDV6 3.0-litre and the 5.0-litre V8, all hooked up to the superb six speed ZF auto transmission.
There are now two new alloy wheel designs, two new option packs, better audio and navigation systems. Those going in at entry level will find the audio system is no longer black and white but in colour. It also comes standard with Bluetooth and is available with USB/iPod connectivity. And, for the first time the audio system is available with a touch screen.
New electrical architecture also allows enhancement to the Harmon Kardon Logic 7 system with a massive 825 Watts of power booming out through a 17-speaker system. There’s also a new `say what you see’ voice command on premium sound systems that allows the driver to use voice activation for parking assistance and for front and rear view cameras.
The new technology pack also includes 4x4 off-road navigation.
The vision assist package adds adaptive front headlamps including cornering lamps, auto headlamps with high beam assist and a surround camera system including approach lamps, tow assist and tow hitch assist. For those looking for the `simple life’ the Discovery 4 with all the bells and whistles may over-complicate life. On the other hand technophiles will love it.
Not everything in the Discovery 4 is high-tech, although we are sure under the skin it is. Land Rover’s simple-to-use 4WD selector is so easy to learn a novice could select the appropriate settings for just about any off-road challenge with a few minutes tuition. (Having said that we always recommend new 4WD owners should undertake an accredited 4WD driving and safety course before heading off-road).
With size comes flexibility and Discovery 4 is chock full of storage spaces and bins and has a huge, but flexible, cargo area. Under the large flooring are two extra seats – suitable for children – that lift seating to seven in excellent long-distance comfort.
Discovery 4’s high seating position, the low shoulder height, the never-ending gadgetry, the off-road capability, the imposing road presence all add up to a status symbol.
It is also great to drive but has compromises thanks to the pure body bulk. It is at it’s best cruising on highways where the bulk and size - along with impressive list of active and passive safety equipment - give passengers an air of invulnerability.
Land Rover Discovery 4 at times, like when cornering tight bends, feels its bulk. The overall feel as a driver is one of a well-built solid vehicle that will take you anywhere in supreme comfort.
MODEL RANGE
TDV6 2.7-litre 140 kW/440 Nm turbo diesel: $68,490
SDV6 SE 3.0-litre 180 kW/600 Nm turbo diesel: $81,990
SDV6 HSE 3.0-litre 180 kW/600 Nm turbo diesel: $95,100
V8 5.0-litre 276 kW/510 Nm normally aspirated: $127,500
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard in all models
Air Conditioning: Standard in all models
Automatic Transmission: Standard in all models
CD Player: Standard in all models
Central Locking: Standard in all models
Cruise Control: Standard in all models
Dual Front Airbags: Standard in all models
Front Side Airbags: Standard in all models
Stability Control: Standard in all models
Traction Control: Standard in all models
SPECIFICATIONS (SDV6 SE 3.0-litre)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 3.0 litres
Configuration: V6
Compression Ratio: 16:1
Bore/Stroke: 84.0 mm x 90.0 mm
Maximum Power: 180 kW @ 4000 rpm
Maximum Torque: 600 Nm @ 2000 rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: 4WD
Manual Transmission: N/A
Automatic Transmission: 6-speed
Final Drive Ratio: 3.540
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4838 mm
Wheelbase: 2885 mm
Width: 2022 mm (mirrors folded)
Height: 1887 mm
Turning Circle: 11.45 metres
Kerb Mass: 2583 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 82.3 litres
Towing Ability: 3500 kg (kg with braked trailer)
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: cross linked air suspension
Rear Suspension: cross linked air suspension
Front Brakes: ventilated disc
Rear Brakes: ventilated disc
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 9.6 seconds
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: diesel
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 9.3 L/100km
GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 5/10
Air Pollution Rating: 3/10
STANDARD WARRANTY:
3 years/ 100,000 km |
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